r/canadaguns • u/Mountain-Badger-4627 • Mar 14 '26
Application / Regulation advice Legalities to 3d print firearm parts
In Canada, what firearm-related things are legal to 3D print? I know receivers are illegal to print, but what about things like chassis and stocks?
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u/Wiggum13 Mar 14 '26
I print attachments, rails, grips, forends, folding/fixed stocks. Decorative cans, etc. never anything that changing the functionality of the firearm. It’s nothing new to me. Because I also make airsoft and “nerf” stuff as well.
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u/Anal-Assassin Mar 14 '26
Where do you get your files?
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u/Wiggum13 Mar 14 '26
Any of the usual file sites. Sometimes you have to do some sleuthing to find stuff. Because people don’t blatantly name their files. “Angled foregrip for my fully auto M249”.
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u/Ok-Opportunity-9180 Jun 13 '26
are we allowed to print pistol grips ??
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u/Acceptable_Visit_115 Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 15 '26
Things we know you can't print (or even possess the computer files for them) because the Criminal Code explicitly listed them:
"firearm" i.e. Handgun frames, and the "receiver" part of a long gun (Criminal Code 2)
"firearm parts" i.e. Barrels and handgun slides (Criminal Code 84(1))
"prohibited devices" i.e. Overcapacity magazines, suppressors, drop-in autosears, bull-pup chassis/stock, bumpstocks, etc. (Criminal Code 84(1) and SOR/98-462)
Owning the files would violate Criminal Code 102.1. Manufacturing them falls under Criminal Code 99 at the very least.
I am not a lawyer. These are all openly available, easily searchable, and unambiguously listed on the government's website.
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u/CorsicanMastiffStrip Mar 15 '26
It’s important to clarify that 102.1 is so poorly written that it could apply to all of this or it could not. The exact wording is:
Every person commits an offence who possesses or accesses computer data that pertain to a firearm — other than a firearm that is deemed under subsection 84(3) not to be a firearm — or a prohibited device and that are capable of being used with a 3D printer, metal milling machine or similar computer system for the purpose of manufacturing or trafficking a firearm or prohibited device derived from that computer data otherwise than under the authority of the Firearms Act or any other Act of Parliament or any regulations made under an Act of Parliament.
So firearms parts are not firearms. But “pertain to” is ambiguous enough that it concerns me. I believe the intent it so cover things like 80% designs as there really is no reason to not say “firearm or firearm part” as the latter has an exact definition, as you pointed out, if they wanted to include parts. They do included “prohibited device”, which includes things like undersize pistol barrels. There’s also the “for the purpose of manufacturing or trafficking a firearm” bit, which is NOT “for the purpose … a firearm or firearm part”.
99 uses the same wording about not manufacturing things for firearm parts and ammunition.
So my opinion at this time is that you could legally design and manufacture firearm parts as long as they aren’t prohibited devices, you aren’t selling them, and you are licensed to possess the firearms they fit. Like if you made a replacement barrel for a pistol you own, that appears to be ok.
Naturally any of that could change with a single ruling that interprets things differently, so that’s fun.
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u/Acceptable_Visit_115 Mar 15 '26
There’s also the “for the purpose of manufacturing or trafficking a firearm” bit
My guess is that they only threw that into 102.1 in the rare case of 99 (trafficking) doesn't cover it. Gotta catch em all!
Naturally any of that could change with a single ruling that interprets things differently, so that’s fun.
Yup, afaik none of the 102.1 has been tested in court ever. We'll see how it plays out.
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u/CorsicanMastiffStrip Mar 15 '26
It honestly can’t really hurt to send your CFO an email on these kinds of questions. Maybe from an anonymous or pseudonymous email lol.
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u/Goliad1990 Mar 15 '26
In Canada, what firearm-related things are legal to 3D print?
Firearm frames/receivers, barrels, handgun slides, and Prohibited Devices are illegal to print. Everything else is legal. So in the case of a chassis or stock, you're good to go as long as it isn't a bullpup conversion (prohibited). Make sure that your design doesn't make the firearm too short, obviously.
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u/lagavulinski Mar 14 '26
I saw someone at the range last week with 3D printed magazines for his bolt action Savage that gave it a 15 round capacity. Legal? It's not compatible with any semi-autos. The range officer didn't seem to care.
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u/julienjj Mar 15 '26
No limit on bolt action magazine. They are companies selling rimfire magazines that are 3d printed too.
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u/Mountain-Badger-4627 Mar 14 '26
Could I/ Should I 3d print a fennac chassis for my 10/22 receiver or would that be crossing the legal line
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u/Sunray21A Mar 15 '26
Perhaps printers have gotten better over the years, but at one competition I went to a few people had mag couplers so they could flip them around jungle style.
Guy loads a full mag on a closed bolt, the coupler that replaced the mag baseplate broke, ammo and spring dump out the bottom. I point this out, the load another mag, same thing.
Same issue down the line with another person using them.
I think we ended up loaning them some Pmags so they could actually shoot.
They looked pretty bummed someone was selling the couplers online for $15 a pop and they couldn't last one insertion.
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u/outline8668 Mar 17 '26
It really depends on the design, materials used and the environment it's used in. I have thousands of rounds on a 3D printed stock I made and zero issues. However fine parts with locking tabs and that sort of thing that have to handle a load have a tough time surviving.
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Mar 14 '26
A quick google search will tell you - don't. Surely there is some flexibility, and personnal use shouldn't be an issue but you might end up on a watch list if you start asking for help and files. Haha
"No, it is illegal to 3D print functional gun parts or firearms in Canada without a proper business licence. Under Bill C-21, 3D-printed guns ("ghost guns") are considered prohibited, and possessing, manufacturing, or even distributing digital files to print them is a criminal offense."
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u/starw24-ps4 Mar 14 '26
I believe the “functional” section of your quote is what matters. In their context I’m assuming functional is something that makes the gun function, i.e. barrel, slide, trigger, etc.
There’s lots of people online who sell and publish cad files for small parts such as ammo clips, rails, and stocks. These people haven’t been taken down.
It definitely is a unique issue that they are leaving vague on purpose
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Mar 14 '26 edited Mar 14 '26
Assuming is what usually get you in trouble. I never said the RCMP was going to bust through his door for printing a bolt knob.
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u/Vintage_Pieces_10 Mar 14 '26
As long as the chassis or stock doesn’t reclassify the firearm from one designation to another, nor is it a prohibited part (silencer, receiver, auto-switch etc), generally it’s ok (I urge more research as well, but that’s the general idea).
Also, in all technicality, you can take a non-restricted firearm and print scratch made parts that would make it restricted, but you’d need to submit the specs, photos, and related documents to the firearms lab, which would need to also be checked by a verifier before being issued a sub FRT. And thats IF they issue a sub FRT